Remote management of UEFI BIOS settings and configuration

ABSTRACT

In an information handling system (IHS), remote management of basic input/output system (BIOS) settings and configuration includes maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application to communicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOS system, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicated from the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configuration capsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration.

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/032,732, filed on Feb. 18, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.7,904,708, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to information handlingsystems, and more particularly to a remote management of UniversalExtensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) basic input/output (BIOS) settingsand configuration.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generallyprocesses, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data forbusiness, personal, or other purposes. Because technology andinformation handling needs and requirements may vary between differentapplications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allowfor IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific usesuch as financial transaction processing, airline reservations,enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

For purposes of this disclosure, Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) andUniversal Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) are used interchangeablyand called UEFI for simplicity. Today in Legacy BIOS as well as UEFIBIOS systems there is usually a setup option that allows a user of theIHS to change system configurations and/or BIOS settings. The types ofthings that can be changed include, but are not limited to, hard drivesetup, USB controller setup, passwords, TPM settings, video settings,and/or a variety of other configurations and/or settings.

Typically when the IHS is turned on, a message is displayed that allowsthe user to press a specific keyboard input key to enter a BIOS setup.When this key is pressed within a set time period, the BIOS code willdisplay a setup screen that can be used to change these settings.Entering setup may optionally be protected to change these settings.Once in Setup the user or authorized person can then change the settingsand configure the system, associated peripherals, and etc.

This means that a person has to physically be present at the computer inorder to change any of these settings. For Information Technology (IT)managed organizations where the computer systems are managed by an ITgroup, the requirement of having to physically be present at eachphysical computer to make BIOS configuration changes can represent alarge labor effort. If an organization decides to implement a policy onspecific computer BIOS settings, then it would require having an ITperson physically go to each individual IHS to make those changes. AsBIOS code and specifically as UEFI/EFI BIOS become more available, thetechnologies present in the BIOS code continue to get more complex andmore functionality is being added to this environment. This will mean anincrease in the number and types of BIOS Settings and Configuration thatcan and will be necessary in the future.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved remotemanagement of UEFI BIOS settings and configuration system absent thedeficiencies described above.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a remote management of basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) settings and configuration is provided by maintaining aBIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application tocommunicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOSsystem, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicatedfrom the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configurationcapsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an information handling system(IHS).

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art embodiment of a UEFI BIOS.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a remote management system of UEFIBIOS settings and configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a remote management system of UEFIBIOS settings and configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a remote management system of UEFIBIOS settings and configuration.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a remote management system of UEFIBIOS settings and configuration.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a remote management system of UEFIBIOS settings and configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS 100 includes any instrumentalityor aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify,process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display,manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form ofinformation, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, orother purposes. For example, an IHS 100 may be a personal computer, anetwork storage device, cell phone, PDA, or any other suitable deviceand may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. TheIHS 100 may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processingresources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware orsoftware control logic, read only memory (ROM), and/or other types ofnonvolatile memory. Additional components of the IHS 100 may includenone, one, or more disk drives, none, one, or more network ports forcommunicating with external devices as well as various input and output(I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and have any type of videodisplay as well as devices that have touch screens. The IHS 100 may alsoinclude one or more buses operable to transmit communications betweenthe various hardware components.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one IHS 100. The IHS 100 includes aprocessor 102 such as an Intel Pentium™ series processor or any otherprocessor available. A memory I/O hub chipset 104 (comprising one ormore integrated circuits) connects to processor 102 over a front-sidebus 106. Memory I/O hub 104 provides the processor 102 with access to avariety of resources. Main memory 108 connects to memory I/O hub 104over a memory or data bus. A graphics processor 110 also connects tomemory I/O hub 104, allowing the graphics processor to communicate,e.g., with processor 102 and main memory 108. Graphics processor 110, inturn, provides display signals to a display device 112.

Other resources can also be coupled to the system through the memory I/Ohub 104 using a data bus, including an optical drive 114 or otherremovable-media drive, none, one or more hard disk drives 116, none, oneor more network interfaces 118, none, one or more Universal Serial Bus(USB) ports 120, and a super I/O controller 122 to provide access touser input devices 124, etc. The IHS 100 may also include a solid statedrive (SSDs) 126 in place of, or in addition to main memory 108, theoptical drive 114, and/or a hard disk drive 116. It is understood thatany or all of the drive devices 114, 116, and 126 may be located locallywith the IHS 100, located remotely from the IHS 100, and/or they may bevirtual with respect to the IHS 100.

Not all IHSs 100 include each of the components shown in FIG. 1, andother components not shown may exist. Furthermore, some components shownas separate may exist in an integrated package or be integrated in acommon integrated circuit with other components, for example, theprocessor 102 and the memory I/O hub 104 can be combined together. Ascan be appreciated, many systems are expandable, and include or caninclude a variety of components, including redundant or parallelresources.

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art embodiment of a UEFI BIOS 134 for a UEFIsystem 130. In this system 130, commonly understood in the art, anoperating system 132 communicates with a UEFI BIOS 134. Within the UEFIBIOS architecture there is Platform Specific Firmware 138 and optionallya compatibility system module 136 which communicate with the hardware140, such as the drives 114, 116 and 126 and/or the user input devices124. The compatibility system module 136 is used to provide legacy BIOSfunctionality, like interrupts and to be able to boot a legacy operatingsystem. The UEFI interface provides a new interface that is used to bootUEFI aware operating systems. UEFI is a complete framework that providesfor the functionality of the PEI and DXE phases and their relateddrivers.

FIGS. 3-7 illustrate different embodiments of remote management systemsfor UEFI BIOS settings and configuration. This disclosure providesseveral systems and methods for performing and managing UEFI BIOS setupsettings and configuration data via remote IHSs 100. This idea may allowlimiting access to BIOS setup by using a system and/or administratorpasswords such that users would not have access to their IHS's 100 BIOSSetup. This would then provide a method for an information technology(IT) group to maintain a database 144 of BIOS settings and configurationData. This database 144 may maintain settings and configuration datathat is global to the company or environment. It could also maintainsettings that are specific to an individual IHS 100 or group of IHSs100. The database 144 may also maintain settings that are specific tocertain users globally or specific users using specific IHSs 100.

In an embodiment, a organization IT Group may manage and own the BIOSsettings and configuration database 144, no matter what type of databaseconfiguration or combinations of configurations are used. Access toretrieve information from the database 144 may be available over anetwork 146. In an embodiment, the database 144 may be managed by an ITgroup and a software application may be provided to edit, create andmodify the BIOS setting and configuration data maintained in thedatabase 144. With the database 144 available and the data configured inthe database 144, it may be available for managing the BIOS settings andconfiguration of each individual IHS 100.

Disclosed are four different software methods (e.g., using operatingsystem (OS) applications 147, 148, 149, and 150, OS kernel mode drivers152 and UEFI BIOS changes 154) that may be used to validate that the IHS100 has the proper BIOS Settings and Configuration. However, one ofordinary skill in the art should readily understand that other methodsmay be practiced within the scope of those disclosed. A IOCTL I/F 151couples an application 147, 148, 149, 150 with a kernel mode driver 152for an application to be able to communicate with the device driver 152.In other words, the phrase kernel mode device driver is used forsimplicity throughout this disclosure. However, it is to be understoodthat any operating system 132, system level device driver that wouldhave access to the UEFI system runtime table pointers and that also hasthe right to execution privileges in the operating system 132 to makeUEFI runtime system calls would work as well. Another method may be touse an operating system provided interface to call UEFI runtime servicesfrom an operating system application without having to develop aseparate operating system specific device driver to provide thatinterface.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate block diagrams of methods 156, 157, and 158, suchas, software methods, to take advantage of UEFI runtime services 164.Specifically, the UEFI/EFI capsule runtime service 164. The capsuleruntime service 164 is a UEFI defined runtime service. This service isdefined to provide a method to send data (e.g., can be a combination ofdata and code) from the OS to the UEFI BIOS. It is currently defined inthe UEFI Specification as a one way interface that causes a system resetwith a special case S3 shutdown. This was originally conceived to allowfor BIOS firmware updates to be received, and then passed from the OS tothe UEFI BIOS. When the DXE capsule runtime service is invoked it isresponsible for saving the capsule data and then initiating a special S3restart 160. The S3 restart code then checks to see if this is in memory108 and if necessary updates the memory 108 with the new BIOS image.

The capsule runtime service 164 may be called by an OS kernel modedevice driver 152. The methods 156, 157, and 158 propose differentcombinations of an application software program 147, 148, and/or 149that communicates with a special operating system specific kernel modedevice driver 152 and an extension to the idea of the UEFI capsulesinterface in such a way that capsule runtime service may be used for anadditional purpose.

A difference between the method 157 and the method 158 is when theyoccur and how the application software program 147, 148 would work. Thefirst method 156 uses a special application 147 that communicated withthe special OS kernel mode device driver 152 very early during the OSboot process, (e.g., prior to allowing anyone to log on to the system).The second method 157 waits until a user is logging on to the IHS 100with their password. This would use a special logon validationapplication 148 that communicates with the special OS kernel mode devicedriver 152. This second method 157 has an added benefit of being able tonot only know what IHS 100 is being booted, but also what user islogging on to the IHS 100.

In either case, what happens next is substantially same. The specialapplication 147, 148 goes out and checks the BIOS setting andconfiguration database 144 for the current IHS 100, user, group orcompany wide settings that would apply to the current boot. This datawould then be combined into a special capsule data packet that containscurrently authorized BIOS settings and configuration data based on whatIHS 100 is booting and potentially what user is logging in (for method2, 157). The special application program 148, gathers this data andcreates a special and identifiable capsule data packet that then passesto the special OS kernel mode device driver 152 through an IOCTLinterface. This kernel mode device driver 152 then makes an appropriatecapsule runtime services call passing the capsule data packet.

The methods 156, 157 then invoke the UEFI/EFI capsule runtime serviceDXE driver. In an embodiment, methods 156 and 157 allow that the capsuleruntime service DXE driver be modified in such a way that it canrecognize the special Capsule Data packet that is sent by the OS kernelmode device driver 152 as a special BIOS Setting and Configuration datapacket. When the UEFI/EFI Capsule DXE driver determines at 166 that thedata packet is a BIOS Setting and Configuration data packet, it thenperforms different functionality from what is normally done when aCapsule data packet is received.

For methods 156, 157, the UEFI/EFI Capsule DXE driver is thenresponsible for validating at 168 the BIOS Settings and Configurationdata contained in the data packet with the settings that are currentlybeing used by the UEFI/EFI BIOS. The validation could be done by theCapsule DXE driver or it could optionally call another special DXEDriver that may be created specifically for validating the BIOS Settingsand Configuration. There may be other places that the validation couldbe done. It should be noted that the BIOS settings and configurationdata contained in the capsule data packet is validated against what iscurrently being used by the UEFI/EFI BIOS.

If the Capsule data matches what is currently configured in BIOS thenthere is no need to do any changes. In this case the UEFI Capsule DXEdriver may do a normal return back to the kernel mode driver 152 thatcalled it which would then continue to allow the boot of the OS (method156) or allow the user to finish logging on to the IHS 100 (method 157).

If there are differences found or changes that need to be made to theBIOS Settings, then the changes may be made just as if BIOS setup hadmade the changes and then the special cased S3 resume mechanism 160 orother restart mechanisms could be used to reboot the system, whennecessary, as determined in 170, and allow the new BIOS changes to beapplied and let the UEFI BIOS boot again to the OS. This time the sameprocess will take place, essentially validating the changes against thedatabase, only this time everything matches and allows the OS to boot orthe user to log on to the IHS 100.

The validation of BIOS Settings and Configuration data at 168 may allowfor the following:

-   -   1. IT Database 144 of IHS 100 & user specific BIOS Settings &        Configurations that are allowed.    -   2. Remote management of BIOS settings on organization wide IHSs        100. When a user needed a change to be made, it could be done        remotely by an IT support person, without having to go        physically to the IHS 100. This change may be made in the        Database 144 and then the IT support person may then tell the        user to reboot their system. During the reboot the process above        would take place with a change being detected, causing a restart        and the changes being applied and then a normal boot.    -   3. This may also allow for an OS end-user application running on        the IHS 100 to be used to manage BIOS settings on the local IHS        100 (e.g., method 172).

Methods 156 and 157 have an advantage of using an OS level application147, 148 and kernel mode driver 152 to perform the database, network anduser interface work. This allows for all of the resources and memory 108of the operating system to perform a portion of this work. In anembodiment, the UEFI BIOS changes only need to consider comparing andthen, if needed, changing individual UEFI BIOS settings. This allows forthe low level code changes that are needed in the UEFI/EFI BIOS to beminimized.

As an option, instead of using the UEFI/EFI capsule runtime service as ameans for sending the database 144 information to the UEFI/EFI BIOS, aproprietary or new UEFI/EFI runtime service may be defined andimplemented so that the special OS kernel mode device driver 152 maycall. While this is technically possible, runtime services are supposedto be agreed to and defined in the industry standard UEFI/EFISpecification. Therefore, creating a new runtime service would beoutside of the current UEFI/EFI Specification. However, this disclosureshould not be limited by what runtime service is used to pass the datafrom the OS side to the UEFI/EFI BIOS.

Method 158 is where there is a scheduled application 149 that runswhenever the IT department needs it to. This could be on a regularlyscheduled basis or only as needed. This embodiment provides a method 158for pushing out changes either globally or to a specific group of IHSs100 that are being managed by the IT department. This allows for pushingout changes as needed and forcing a reboot of each IHS 100 once theupdated BIOS settings and configuration had been applied. This issimilar to IT departments pushing out software or security updates andforcing all IHSs 100 to apply those updates organization wide. Thiswould provide for a similar functionality for the BIOS Settings andConfiguration Data.

This method 158 may be comprised of a special application program thatmay be scheduled to run when needed. This application program would thenget the appropriate BIOS settings and configuration data from thedatabase 144. The application program 149 may then call the specialkernel mode driver 152 through an IOCTL interface 151. The kernel modedriver 152 may then create a capsule data packet and call the UEFI/EFIcapsule runtime service 164. The changes may then be applied asdescribed above for the methods 156 and 157 described above and if aBIOS setting or configuration had been changed, it could then force therestart of the IHS 100.

Method 172 shows a way that an end user application 150 may be providedto allow a user to manage and change BIOS settings and configurationusing the same UEFI runtime service 164 substantially similar to thatbeing used in Methods 156, 157, and 158. The difference here is thatthere is no database involved and this is just a convenient way to allowthe user to change their UEFI BIOS settings and configuration whilerunning in the environment of the operating system that they arerunning. It is also conceivable that the UEFI/EFI BIOS settings andconfiguration changes could be applied in such a way that a systemreboot would not be necessary for method 172 as well as methods 156,157, and 158.

The method 174, does not use the UEFI/EFI capsule runtime service 164 orany other UEFI runtime service. Instead, this method 174 operates duringthe UEFI/EFI BIOS POST processing, prior to booting any operatingsystem. This has an advantage of not requiring operating system specificapplications or drivers. The work to query the database 144, receivedata 176 from the database 144 and validate the current BIOS Settingsand Configuration 178 may be done within the UEFI/EFI BIOS code. Thismay be done during the DXE phase of the UEFI/EFI BIOS. This is whenmemory 108 and other system resources are available. This may also bedone during the PEI phase of the UEFI/EFI BIOS, but with moredevelopment difficulty.

This may involve writing special DXE driver or drivers that provide thefunctionality necessary in order to retrieve information from anorganization BIOS Settings and Configuration database 144. This mayrequire networking support along with a specific protocol for talking tothe external network database. This would require additional developmentwithin the UEFI/EFI BIOS and it would slow down the perceived BIOS boottime. However, this option itself may be a BIOS Setup configurationoption and only when initiated, would it may take extra time.

The similar steps described above for methods 156 and 157 may still beutilized. A difference is that the UEFI/EFI BIOS is responsible fordoing the database query, receiving the data, validating theconfiguration information with what the UEFI/EFI BIOS is currently usingand make updates to these settings as necessary. If changes are notneeded, then the power on self-test (POST) could continue and boot anoperating system.

If changes were made in the BIOS, the UEFI/EFI BIOS could reboot thesystem as needed, depending on the changes being applied, so that thenew changes would be used. This will force another check of the BIOSSettings and Configuration Data, which should just validate and allowthe system to boot the operating system.

In an embodiment, there is also a way to implement substantially thesame type of scenario on a legacy BIOS using the SMI interface. This mayinvolve a different process and the method of doing the code would bedifferent.

An advantage of the UEFI BIOS is that it provides for a normal publishedinterface to be used in methods 156, 157, and 158. Another advantage ofmethods 156, 157, & 158 is that it may not affect the BIOS boot times.For method 174, UEFI provides an extensible driver based environmentthat would support loading additional DXE drivers that may be needed topractice method 174. However, doing this during BIOS and waiting onnetwork requests and data, would add to the overall boot time.

This disclosure may extend the control and security of individual IHSs100 to the BIOS level settings. As an example, one could use thesemethods to control the settings remotely for what the mass storage bootorder is. If the UEFI BIOS has both a system and administrator passwordthat only IT knew, then a user would not be able to change the bootorder themselves. However, if a particular user needed the boot orderchanged so they could boot off of a different mass storage device, itcould be controlled remotely on an individual user basis. Additionally,there are other BIOS settings that could also be managed this way.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a widerange of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of theembodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of theembodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for updating basic input/output system(BIOS) settings and configuration on an Information Handling System(IHS), comprising: maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database;providing an IHS coupled to the BIOS setting/configuration databasethrough a network, wherein the IHS includes a BIOS and an operatingsystem (OS) including an OS device driver; communicating with the OSdevice driver by an application during a boot process of the OS, whereinthe communicating is performed prior to a user logging on to the IHS;accessing the BIOS setting/configuration database by the application tocombine a plurality of currently authorized BIOS setting/configurationdata that is based on the IHS into a special BIOS configuration capsulepacket; communicating the special BIOS configuration capsule packet bythe application to the OS device driver; passing the special BIOSconfiguration capsule packet from the OS device driver to a capsuleruntime service driver as a special capsule data packet; determining, bythe capsule runtime service driver, that the special capsule data packetis a special BIOS configuration capsule packet; and validating theplurality of currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data thatis based on the IHS in the special BIOS configuration capsule packetagainst a plurality of currently used BIOS setting/configuration databeing used by the BIOS.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the BIOS is aunified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) BIOS, a legacy BIOS, or anextensible firmware interface (EFI) BIOS.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining that there are differences between theplurality of currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data andthe plurality of currently used BIOS setting/configuration data; andupdating the plurality of currently used BIOS setting configuration databeing used by the BIOS to conform with the plurality of currentlyauthorized BIOS setting/configuration data.
 4. The method of claim 3,further comprising: initiating a restart mechanism subsequent to theupdating.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the restart mechanism is aspecial S3 resume mechanism.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining that there are no differences between theplurality of currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data andthe plurality of currently used BIOS setting/configuration data; andcompleting the boot process.
 7. A method for updating basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) settings and configuration on an Information HandlingSystem (IHS), comprising: maintaining a BIOS setting/configurationdatabase; providing an IHS coupled to the BIOS setting/configurationdatabase through a network, wherein the IHS includes a BIOS and anoperating system (OS) including an OS device driver; communicating withthe OS device driver by an application in response to receiving log oninformation for the IHS associated with a user; accessing the BIOSsetting/configuration database by the application to combine a pluralityof currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data that is based onthe IHS and the user into a special BIOS configuration capsule packet;communicating the special BIOS configuration capsule packet by theapplication to the OS device driver; passing the special BIOSconfiguration capsule packet from the OS device driver to a capsuleruntime service driver as a special capsule data packet; determining, bythe capsule runtime service driver, that the special capsule data packetis a special BIOS configuration capsule packet; and validating theplurality of currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data thatis based on the IHS and the user in the special BIOS configurationcapsule packet against a plurality of currently used BIOSsetting/configuration data being used by the BIOS.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the BIOS is a unified extensible firmware interface(UEFI) BIOS, a legacy BIOS, or an extensible firmware interface (EFI)BIOS.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: determining thatthere are differences between the plurality of currently authorized BIOSsetting/configuration data and the plurality of currently used BIOSsetting/configuration data; and updating the plurality of currently usedBIOS setting configuration data being used by the BIOS to conform withthe plurality of currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data.10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: initiating a restartmechanism subsequent to the updating.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the restart mechanism is a special S3 resume mechanism.
 12. Themethod of claim 7, further comprising: determining that there are nodifferences between the plurality of currently authorized BIOSsetting/configuration data and the plurality of currently used BIOSsetting/configuration data; and allowing the user to log on to the IHS.13. A method for updating basic input/output system (BIOS) settings andconfiguration on Information Handling Systems (IHSs), comprising:maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database; providing a first IHScoupled to the BIOS setting/configuration database through a network,wherein the first IHS includes a first BIOS and a first operating system(OS) including a first OS device driver; communicating with the first OSdevice driver by an application; accessing the BIOSsetting/configuration database by the application to combine a pluralityof currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data into a specialBIOS configuration capsule packet; communicating the special BIOSconfiguration capsule packet by the application to the first OS devicedriver; passing the special BIOS configuration capsule packet from thefirst OS device driver to a first capsule runtime service driver as aspecial capsule data packet; determining, by the first capsule runtimeservice driver, that the special capsule data packet is a special BIOSconfiguration capsule packet; and validating the plurality of currentlyauthorized BIOS setting/configuration data in the special BIOSconfiguration capsule packet against a plurality of currently used BIOSsetting/configuration data being used by the first BIOS.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein the first BIOS is a unified extensible firmwareinterface (UEFI) BIOS, a legacy BIOS, or an extensible firmwareinterface (EFI) BIOS.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:determining that there are differences between the plurality ofcurrently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data and the pluralityof currently used BIOS setting/configuration data; and updating theplurality of currently used BIOS setting configuration data being usedby the first BIOS to conform with the plurality of currently authorizedBIOS setting/configuration data.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: initiating a restart mechanism subsequent to the updating.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the restart mechanism is a specialS3 resume mechanism.
 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:providing a plurality of second IHSs coupled to the BIOSsetting/configuration database through a network, wherein the pluralityof second IHSs each include a second BIOS and a second operating system(OS) including a second OS device driver; communicating with the secondOS device drivers by an application; accessing the BIOSsetting/configuration database by the application to combine a pluralityof currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data into a specialBIOS configuration capsule packet; communicating the special BIOSconfiguration capsule packet by the application to the second OS devicedrivers; passing the special BIOS configuration capsule packet from thesecond OS device drivers to corresponding second capsule runtime servicedrivers as a special capsule data packet; determining, by the secondcapsule runtime service drivers, that the special capsule data packet isa special BIOS configuration capsule packet; and validating theplurality of currently authorized BIOS setting/configuration data in thespecial BIOS configuration capsule packet against a plurality ofcurrently used BIOS setting/configuration data being used by the secondBIOSs.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: determining thatthere are differences between the plurality of currently authorized BIOSsetting/configuration data and the plurality of currently used BIOSsetting/configuration data; and updating the plurality of currently usedBIOS setting configuration data being used by the second BIOSs toconform with the plurality of currently authorized BIOSsetting/configuration data.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein theapplication is operable to communicate with the first OS device driverand the second OS device drivers to communicate the special BIOSconfiguration capsule packet at scheduled times.